How Much Water Do I Need To Drink A Day To Lose Weight?

When it comes to weight loss the general consensus is less soda, less artificial flavorings and less alcohol. But what exactly is left when you get rid of all the drinks you love? Water, that’s what.

{The amount of water you need to lose weight depends on a variety of factors.}

You know you need to drink less of everything else and drink more water, but is there a magic number of glasses each day that will help you reach your goal weight? If so, how do you find out how much water you need to drink?

Keep reading to find out!

Health Benefits of Water

There are plenty of health benefits associated with drinking more water aside from weight loss. Because water makes up such a large percentage of your body weight, about 60%, it is important that you stay properly hydrated throughout the day.

One of the most important functions of water is its role as a detoxifier. Rather than wasting money on so-called detox diets you should simply be increasing your water intake. Water flushes toxins from your organs to keep you healthy and to keep your vital organs functioning optimally.

A dehydrated body is one that isn’t performing at its most efficient level, which means that losing weight will become more difficult than it already is. When you’re dehydrated you’ll feel tried and drained of energy, which will make it impossible to finish a fat burning workout. You know that fatigue can make it difficult to make healthy choices in regards to your diet as well, which is why it is important to make sure you’re getting enough water each day.

Weight Loss Benefits of Water

You’re probably wondering why water is so good for you, besides the fact that it is a zero calorie beverage, right?

Well to start, water makes you feel full which can help you reduce the number of calories you consume each day, and eating fewer calories is the first step to successful weight loss. Drinking water with your meals can help fill your stomach so there’s less room for food.

Another added bonus to drinking more water is that it can help you stop overeating. You see we often think we’re hungry when we’re really just thirsty. So by drinking more water you can reduce how many calories you eat each day because you’ll better understand hunger cues. This is a helpful tip to commit to memory when you’re working hard to lose weight.

Determining Your Daily Water Needs

Because there is no simple answer to the question, how much water do I need to drink a day to lose weight, you have to determine for yourself how much water your body needs. Several factors will help you determine the amount, but when in doubt aim for the good old 8 by 8 standard, that is eight 8-ounce glasses each day as recommended by the National Institutes of Health.

If you lead a relatively sedentary lifestyle, sitting at a desk most of the day then your water needs won’t be as high as say a laborer who constantly moving all day. Your physical activity is just one of the many factors that will help you determine how much water you need to drink a day. The more physically active you are the more water you’ll need to drink to replace the fluids lost through sweating.

{The more you sweat, the more water you need to drink!}

Your weight is another key factor that will help you determine how much water you need to drink a day to lose weight. The more you weigh the more water your body likely requires to function, which is why the Institute of Medicine recommends that men, who generally have a higher body weight than women consume an average of 13 cups of water each day, while women should have an average of 9 cups each day.

The general rule here however is that you should aim to drink 8 to 10 cups of water each day, but increase that amount if you continue to show signs of thirst or dehydration.

Finally climate is the other variable that affects how much water should drink a day to lose weight. Since we already know how important water is to a properly working body, you know that being dehydrated in warm and humid climates can be dangerous. People that live in tropical or other warm climates will likely need more water than those who live in a moderate climate.

Drinking More Water

When it comes to losing weight listening to your body can be the difference between success and failure. You need to listen to your body telling you when you’re full, when you’re hungry and even when your thirst is masquerading as hunger. By listening to your body, you’ll know if you need more water in your diet.

Now I understand that you don’t want to be that person always carting around a giant bottle of water as though the world is about to end. You don’t have to be that person to make sure you’re getting enough water each day.

Follow these tips to make sure you get enough water each day to help with your weight loss efforts;

Drink a tall glass of water with every meal.

Have a glass of water between alcoholic drinks.

Pour a glass of water before you eat a snack to avoid overeating.

Add a lemon, lime or orange wedge to flavor water and prevent beverage boredom!

Have water nearby during exercise or other physical activities.

Request a glass of water with your other beverage order when dining out.

These are just a few tips to help you drink more water, but learning to understand what your body is telling you will make sure you get exactly the amount of water your body needs to function. Pay attention to how you feel when you’re hungry or when you think you’re hungry and make an effort to remember them next time.

The good news for your weight loss is that the answer to the question, how much water do I need to drink a day to lose weight, is up to you!

Read our Eat Stop Eat review to find out how to break your addiction to high calorie, sugar-laden drinks.